Gov’t to write to diplomats over ‘false’ Mahama videos
Government says it will write to the diplomats former president John Mahama hosted over the by-election violence that occurred at the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency.
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Information Minister, said government has decided to take the important step of clarifying issues because none of the claims made by Mr Mahama concerning the polls and other related matters was accurate.
He believes leaving the matter without clarification will not be to the benefit of the country as the diplomats will keep the false information as fact, leaving them with a bad impression of the country.
Last week, Mr Mahama hosted the diplomatic community in Accra to present the opposition NDC’s stance on the violence that characterised the by-elections held on January 31.
In his presentation, he showed the diplomats a series of videos, including one he claimed was captured during the by-election in which masked men from National Security unleashed terror on civilians.
Mr Mahama who is vying for the presidential candidacy of his party showed another video which he claimed was captured at the funeral of the late NPP MP for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Kyeremanteng Agyarko.
He alleged that the video in which men dressed in Police uniform were singing at a funeral could not have been staff members of the Ghana Police Service as the Service’s personnel do not wear ear studs.
In another video, the former president told the diplomats that the same so-called Police officers were brought to provide security for the NPP’s parliamentary candidate, Lydia Alhassan who was the spouse of the late Agyarko.
But addressing a press conference at Koforidua in the Eastern Region, the Information Minister said none of the allegations was true.
Mr Nkrumah accused the former president of peddling falsehood and described his actions as unfortunate.
He called on Mr Mahama to apologise as his actions are prejudicial to the work of the Commission of Enquiry set up by President Akufo-Addo to look into the alleged cases of violence that characterised the by-elections.
”This is an unfortunate act by a former President of the republic as it is prejudicial to the work of the committee. As one who has occupied the highest office of the land.
“It is unthinkable that he will make pronouncements that seek to prejudice or undermine the work of a fact-finding Committee at a meeting where he has invited diplomats,” he said.
He added that “We do not believe that in the various countries where diplomats come from, this prejudicial undermining conduct will be countenanced.”
The Ofoase Ayirebi MP explained that one of the videos which purport to show some security persons singing and dancing at the funeral of late Ayawaso West Wuogon MP was false.
“Indeed that video is one of policemen who were at a funeral of their fellow officer and had nothing to do with the late Agyarko’s funeral,” he clarified.
Mr. Nkrumah added that there was also no evidence that the policemen who attended the funeral of their colleague were involved in either the police operation at Ayawaso West Wuogon or the National Security operation at the residence of the NDC parliamentary candidate on the election day.
“Mr. Mahama’s presentation to the diplomats of that video as evidence of a said NPP vigilante group involved in the Ayawaso West Wuogon incidents is false and should be treated as such.
“The family of Mr. Agyarko has even had cause to deny this and the government will bring this formally to the attention of the diplomats.”
The MP said as Ghana is regaining a strong place in the community of nations and government will not allow anyone to bring all its hard work to nought.
Source: Myjoyonline